1. THE
WAY OF LIFESooner

2. 3.86M 39 400+ 60.5°F
Federally-
recognized
tribal nations
Miles of
Route 66
Population Average
annual
temperature
WAY OF LIFE
NORMAN AT A GLANCE
116K
15%
below national
average
44.3% $66K $141K $185K
OKLAHOMA AT A GLANCE
Quick access from Oklahoma City’s Will Rogers World Airport to Kansas City,
Chicago, Dallas, Houston, New Orleans, Denver and many other cities
Population Cost
of living
Bachelor’s
degrees or
higher
Median home
sales price
Median family
income
Average OU
faculty salary
and benefits
AFFORDABILITY + [COMMUNITY, DIVERSITY AND CULTURE] = HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE
The Sooner
The University of Oklahoma’s
beautiful, bustling campus is nestled
in the heart of Norman, the state’s
third largest city. Norman combines
the charm of a college town, the
sophistication of a cosmopolitan city
and the history and culture of the
American West.
Faculty who come to OU for
outstanding career opportunities are
captivated by Norman and its easy
way of living. They stay because
Norman is a culturally diverse
community where balancing work
and achievement with family and
recreation is, quite simply, our way of
life – the Sooner way of life.

4. AND NEIGHBORHOODS
• Curbside recycling
• Seasonal cleanup collection
• CNG-fueled public transportation
• Bicycle-friendly community
Norman’s neighborhoods offer a wide variety of old and new
– from campus homes to rural estates to modern designs. Neighborhood,
community and local government organizations work together to address
beautification, historic preservation and public safety issues.
With a cost of living close to 15 percent less than the national average,
Norman is a very affordable city. In fall 2014, Time ranked Norman the
“least expensive city to raise children.”
Norman’s two city-designated historic preservation districts flank the east
and west sides of the university. Most of 300-plus homes were built between
1915 and 1938, represent almost every architectural style prevalent during
the first quarter of the 20th century, and are significant for their collection of
eclectic residential homes, including the popular Bungalow, a subtype of the
Craftsman style.
Community
Green Norman

5. NEIGHBORHOOD photo
“ The people
you cross paths with on
a daily basis run the gamut
from eager entrepreneurs to aging
artists, from immigrant intellectuals
to native small-town Oklahomans; but
they all seem to have absorbed some
of the unhurried warmth and gentle
directness that define this place.”
- David Vishanoff, associate professor,
religious studies

6. SUPERIOR
In the NPS French language immersion program
at Reagan Elementary, students spend half their day learning math and science in French.
The Norman Public School District is recognized on the state and
national levels for exceptional teachers and instructional programs. In
2013, U.S. News & World Report, Newsweek and the Washington Post
acknowledged both Norman high schools as among the top
5 percent in the nation. In 2014, Newsweek, the Washington Post,
U.S. News & World Report and the Daily Beast commended the district
for its rigor and success.
• 2 high schools, 4 middle schools, 17 elementary schools,
1 alternative school, and 1 online school
• 16,000 students
• Eighth largest Oklahoma school district
• Second in the state in:
o National Merit Scholar semifinalists and finalists
o U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Schools
o Oklahoma Reward Schools
o National board-certified teachers
Schools
A $109 million capital program completed in 2013 provided
enhancements and/or additions at each school. Voters have
approved another $129 million in capital improvements to be completed
during the 2017-18 school year that include the creation of University
Centers on both high school campuses, and several districtwide
enhancements, among which is a 1:1 technology initiative.
Norman also has five private schools.
ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS
Bart Conner Gymnastics Academy
Child development centers
City of Norman recreation centers,
sports and camps
Community After School Program
Firehouse Arts Center
Norman Music Institute
Norman Public Library
Norman Youth Soccer Association
OU Precollegiate Programs
Sooner Studio
YMCA

7. “Norman is a
truly pleasant place to
raise and educate a family.
The people are
exceptionally warm.”
- Bala Saho,
assistant professor, history

8. CORNERSTONE
w ballet and modern dance
w art exhibitions
w dramas
w concerts
w musical theater
w opera
w recitals
Known as the City of Festivals, Norman is home
to more than 25 annual festivals, fairs and events,
including:
• Norman Music Festival
• Jazz in June
• Medieval Fair
• Firehouse Art Center Chocolate Festival
• May Fair
• Norman Mardi Gras Parade
• Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)
• 89ers Day Parade
• National Weather Festival
Each month, the Norman Arts Council presents
The 2nd Friday Norman Art Walk, a citywide
celebration of art. The popular collaboration
among visual and performing artists, art
organizations and businesses is a free public event.
Performances by the Norman Ballet Company
and the Norman Philharmonic are other popular
cultural events.
The Sooner Theatre in Norman’s historic
downtown arts district offers in-house musical
theatre productions, concerts by national touring
groups, special events and dozens of performing
arts classes for all ages at The Studio of The Sooner
Theatre. The Depot, which continues to operate as
Norman’s train station, also is an art gallery and
home base for the popular Winter Wind, Summer
Breeze and jazz concert series.
And for sports enthusiasts, Norman has countless
opportunities — from the thrill of OU athletic events
to the fun of a round of golf to the camaraderie of
community leagues for all ages, this city has it all.
Cultural
OU Arts District 9 venues | 350 annual performances

10. Norman’s concert and performance venues
are located throughout the city and range from
arenas, music halls and theaters to coffee houses,
parks and city streets.
A collaboration among the Norman Arts Council,
Norman Public Arts Board and Firehouse Art
Center promotes community-based public art
that fosters social interaction, develops arts
awareness and enhances Norman’s public
spaces. The Samo Ducky Project, inspired by the
Cow Parade in Chicago and other similar public
art initiatives, integrates unique art into community
parks. The “duck parade” currently consists of
15 installations with such whimsical names as
Swimmin’ Sammy Steel, Ziggy Star Duck, Glow
in the Duck, and Dig Duck, all painted by local
artists.
Central Norman’s culture of biking for
transportation make it a natural fit for artist-
designed bike racks. With shapes ranging from
bison to thunderclouds to, yes, bicycles in various
forms, the colorful and practical racks created
as part of another public arts project inspire
conversation and interaction in the community.
Norman’s public arts projects also include
sculptures that visually anchor the downtown arts
district and murals painted on building facades
that illustrate the history and culture of the state.
Norman’s public arts projects are supported in
part by donations to the Art in Public Places Fund
through city utility bills.
INTERACTIONInspiring
OU world-class museums
The Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art and the Sam Noble
Oklahoma Museum of Natural History
OU ONE-OF-A-KIND COLLECTIONS
Bizzell Bible Collection
Fleischaker, Thams and Adkins collections
of Taos and Native American art
History of Science Collections
Native American Languages Collection
Vertebrate Paleontology Collection
Weiztenhoffer Collection of Impressionism
Western History Collections

11. “Norman is a
great college town –
big enough to have things to
do, but small enough to feel like
you belong to a community. People
are extremely friendly and neighbors
really care about each other.”
- Sharon Kessler, assistant professor,
microbiology and
plant biology

12. DAY Trippin’
Want to take a day trip? Oklahoma City is
just 17 miles away.
In historic Bricktown, take a horse-drawn
carriage ride, hop on a water taxi for a cruise
down the canal, catch an Oklahoma City
Dodgers baseball game at the Chickasaw
Bricktown Ballpark or drop in at the American
Banjo Museum. Just a few blocks away,
cheer on the Oklahoma City Thunder at
Chesapeake Energy Arena or the Oklahoma
City Barons hockey team at the Cox
Convention Center. At the Oklahoma City
Boathouse District – home of the Oklahoma
Regatta Festival and training area for
Olympic hopefuls and the OU rowing team –
anyone can get on the water to row, kayak,
dragon boat or stand-up paddle board. For
an airborne experience, zip line across the
river or try the rumble drop or sky slide.
Downtown, the Oklahoma City National
Memorial and Museum honors “those who
were killed, those who survived and those
changed forever” by the 1995 Murrah
Building bombing. The Myriad Botanical
Gardens and conservatory displays plants
from around the world.
Other Oklahoma City attractions include
the Paseo Arts District, Oklahoma City Zoo,
National Cowboy and Western Heritage
Museum, Oklahoma History Center, Frontier
City Theme Park and National Softball Hall of
Fame.
Seventy-five minutes south of Norman, a
visit to Arbuckle Country could include the
Chickasaw National Recreation Area, Turner
Falls, the Arbuckle Mountains, Lake Murray
State Park and Lake Texoma.
Take the Heartland Flyer Amtrak passenger
train from Norman to Fort Worth in the
morning and return the same evening. Or stay
for a day or two and enjoy the Dallas-Fort
Worth metro.

14. Pubs
The Diner, a downtown institution, was featured on
The Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.
From continental cuisine to comfort food, Asian fusion
to Mexican favorites, pasta to vegan, Norman offers
outstanding dining experiences for every palate.
A vibrant night life unfolds throughout
the city. Start in the OU Arts District and Campus
Corner, move a few blocks north to downtown Main
Street and head west toward Brookhaven Village for
live music and theater, museums and galleries, and
community festivals and other events.
AND DANCE
SAVORY SAMPLINGS
Benvenuti’s
Bison Witches
Blu Fine Wine & Food
Cafe Plaid
Charleston’s
Classic 50’s Drive-in
Cool Greens
Fancy That
Full Moon Sushi Bar & Bistro
Greek House
Hideaway
Jax Soul Kitchen
Legend’s
Local
Louie’s Grill & Bar
Michelangelo’s
O Asian Fusion
O’Connells
Pepe Delgados
Pub W
Scratch
Sooner Dairy
Tarahumara Mexican Cafe
Thai Thai
The Diner
The Library
The Mont
The Service Station
Van’s Pig Stand
Victoria’s - The Pasta Shop

16. TO LINKS
Oklahoma has 2,000 more miles of
shoreline than the Atlantic and
Gulf coasts combined.
Norman has recreation options for everyone:
• Biking
• Billiards
• Bowling
• Disc golf
• Fishing
• Golf and miniature golf
• Hiking and camping
• Horseback riding
• Motorsports
• Paintball and laser tag
• Skating
• Swimming
• Tennis
• Water sports
For indoor fitness buffs, Norman’s gyms and
health clubs offer weight lifting and personal
training; land and water group fitness classes;
lap and leisure swimming; racquetball,
handball, squash and basketball; climbing
walls; and indoor running tracks.
Lakes

18. IT
Crossing Norman from north to south, Legacy Trail
is adorned with beautiful bronze sculptures, including one of
Norman native son James Garner.
Norman’s 55 public parks cover
810 acres and include a championship
golf course, municipal swimming pool
complex with a water slide, hiking trails,
disc golf courses, fishing, tennis courts,
playgrounds, splash pads, a skate
park, a dog park, open and covered
picnic areas, and indoor recreation
centers. Recreation programs include
sports leagues and clinics and dance
and exercise classes. The Griffin Park
Sports Complex encompasses
16 soccer fields, 12 baseball fields
and four football fields with support
facilities.
Youth sporting programs include
baseball, softball, basketball, soccer,
football, golf and tennis are open to all
ages.
Park

20. TO MARKET, TO
Historic Campus Corner, a multi-block hub
located directly north of OU, offers 75 retail,
dining and entertainment establishments that
include specialty boutiques (Antique Garden,
Shoetopia, Savvy and Blush) and a full range
of dining options from Thai, Mexican, Italian
and Indian to burgers, barbeque, cupcakes and
coffee.
From some of the most fertile soil in the country,
Oklahoma farmers grow a bounty of fruits,
vegetables, herbs, trees, plants and flowers. They
also make some of the best jellies, jams, honeys
and sauces available anywhere. All of it and more
can be found at the Norman Farm Market, held
twice weekly beginning with the first harvest in
April to the last in October.
With its prairie-style architecture and landmarks,
Downtown Norman offers an array of antique
malls, jewelry stores, art galleries, furniture
stores, gift shops and many dining options. A day
downtown can start with a latte and antiquing and
end with a relaxing dinner and live music.
The family-friendly atmosphere of Sooner Mall
draws shoppers to such big-name retailers as
Dillards, J.C. Penney, Old Navy, Sears, Gap
and Forever 21, as well as shops featuring
athletic gear, candy, greeting cards, fabric, and
home and garden decor. Other retail options on
the city’s west side are Brookhaven Village,
which boasts boutiques, day spas and a health
club, specialty stores and eating establishments;
University North Park, a two-mile shopping
district that includes Target, Kohl’s, Home Goods,
T. J. Maxx, Academy Sports & Outdoors, and a
Crest grocery store; and Parkway Plaza and
Redbud Plaza, which offer Pier One, Toys R Us,
Barnes & Noble, PetSmart and PetCo.
One-of-a-kind local shops are the norm at
Carriage Plaza, an open-air center with
carriage-style architecture and plenty of parking.
Find high-end clothing and gifts at Cayman’s and
The Webb, gourmet candy at The Candy Basket
and an impressive array of fine cheeses and
specialty foods at Forward Foods.
Market
Dodson’s Health Food & Vitamins | Durango Mexican Store and Taqueria
The Earth | Midway Market | Natural Grocers | Spice and Rice | Sprouts
Norman’s health and
specialty food shops include

22. Body
Assembly of God
Baha’i
Baptist
Catholic
Christian
Christian Disciples
Christian Science
Church of Christ
Church of God
Church of Latter-Day
Saints
Church of the Nazarene
Episcopalian/Anglican
Interdenominational
Islam
Jehovah’s Witness
Jewish
Lutheran
Messianic
Methodist
Nondenominational
Orthodox Christian
Pentecostal
Presbyterian
Quaker
Seventh Day Adventist
Unitarian
United Church of Christ
Wesleyan
Norman is a welcoming, inclusive community in which these
denominations and others are represented:
Norman offers a full array of
health care facilities and services.
Among them are:
Norman Regional Health
System is composed of three
hospitals, as well as outpatient
diagnostic centers, medical
transport services, physician
services and centers of excellence.
The J.D. McCarty Center for
Children with Developmental
Disabilities is Oklahoma’s
center of excellence in the care
and treatment of children with
developmental disabilities.
Griffin Memorial Hospital is an
adult inpatient psychiatric teaching
hospital that offers comprehensive
mental health services.
Goddard Health Services on
OU’s Norman campus is staffed
by professionals dedicated to
serving the health needs of the
university community.
World-class health facilities in
Oklahoma City include:
Harold Hamm Diabetes Center
Integris Health System
Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City
Oklahoma Heart Hospital
OU Medical Center
OU Children’s Hospital
St. Anthony Hospital
Stephenson Cancer Center
The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution. www.ou.edu/eoo. This publication, printed by University Printing Services, is issued by the University of Oklahoma. 350 copies have been prepared and distributed at no cost to the taxpayers
of the State of Oklahoma. Photos provided by: Shevaun Williams and Associates, Pioneer Library System, Jazz in June Inc., Norman Chamber of Commerce, Norman Convention and Visitors Bureau, Astrud Reed, Drew Allensworth, Douglas Shaw Elder,
Rich Taylor, Oklahoma City Thunder, Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, Community After School Program, OU Athletics, Jimmie Austin OU Golf Course and American Banjo Museum. Design by Brandy Akbaran, University Printing Services.
AND
Soul